Guardian Farming September

Farming GUARDIAN

SEPTEMBER, 2014

Spring is in the air So cute and cuddly, but don’t forget to protect yourself from diseases.

Pages 3-5

PHOTO TETSURO MITOMO/DIGITALLY ALTERED

Farming

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Olivia Fitzgerald

Greg Martin

John Leadley

Sheryl Stivens

Tony Davoren

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Olivia Fitzgerald discusses the pros and pitfalls of leasing

P37

Greg Martin reminds us why every man needs a boat

P4

COMMENT FROM EDITOR Spring got off to a bad start in Mid Canterbury, with balaclava-clad man walking into the Ashburton Winz office carrying a sawn-off shotgun on the morning of September 1.

Within the space of a minute two women were dead, and another seriously injured.

The event sparked a sevenhour manhunt; the town swarmed with police, members of the armed offenders’ squad and the special tactics group.

Many businesses and schools went into lock-down.

The search was predominately centred on farmland south of the township, and the man accused of two counts of murder and one of attempted murder was spotted by a farmer out checking his lambing ewes.

He immediately knew the man walking across his paddock was the subject of the manhunt, and the reason the police helicopter was sweeping the riverbed bordering his property.

The wanted man was only

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BRASS AND FEATHERS

John Leadley rethinks the future of farming in the land of opportunities

P22

Sheryl Stivens talks about the connection between ocean junk and fashion.

P10

Tony Davoren looks at the possibility of an early irrigation season

P8

RURAL COMMENT

MASTAGARD ASHBURTON

Michelle Nelson

RURAL EDITOR

100 metres away when he calmly got back in his truck and drove off, calling police as he did so.

The arrest followed soon afterward.

It’s rare for such extreme acts of violence to invade rural areas, but last week’s events proved that they can and they do.

In the wake of the tragedy, a much more familiar aspect of farming communities was revealed; people were quick to offer help and support to the families and friends of the victims.

Although they have a long road to walk, both in terms of their grief and to see justice done, they can count on the continued support of this resilient community.

CONTACTS Advertising Email jenni.s@theguardian.co.nz or phone 03 307 7927.

Post Ashburton Guardian, PO Box 77, Ashburton.

We appreciate your feedback.

Editor Email your comments to michelle.n@theguardian.co.nz or phone 03 307 7971.

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Protect yourself from diseases Health authorities are warning people to be vigilant about hygiene after handling farm animals.

Diseases such as tetanus, E.coli, salmonella and ringworm are easily transmitted across species.

Canterbury Medical Officer of Health Dr Alistair Humphrey said spring is a busy time on farms and in meatworks, putting those handling animals at increased risk of catching serious diseases.

Children were particularly at risk, he said.

“Farm animals may look cute and harmless but if you don’t wash your hands thoroughly after touching them you can

Michelle Nelson

RURAL EDITOR

catch diseases,” Dr Humphrey said.

“Spring is the time of year when stomach bugs are most prevalent in Canterbury. It is a busy time on farms and people are in close contact with animals.

“This often includes workers or visitors who don’t usually deal with animals.”

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preschooler contracted verocytotoxin producing escherichia coli (VTEC) – a strain of E.coli, while feeding a lamb.

The three-year-old’s life hung in the balance at Starship Hospital for several days.

“Fortunately she is lucky to make a full recovery – thanks to the intensive care she received, as early on in her illness her prognosis was bleak,” Dr Humphrey said.

VTEC is one of several diseases carried by healthy animals and can also be transmitted by drinking unpasteurised milk.

“Children are the most at risk, as they are the most difficult part of the population

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to get to wash their hands after feeding farm animals, and need to be reminded to wash their hands regularly.”

People are advised to not drink raw milk, to wash hands thoroughly after contact with animals and to ensure water supplies are protected from contamination.

Hand sanitiser can also be used after touching animals to kill harmful bacteria.

Early signs to look out for include diarrhoea, which may contain blood after two to three days.

Medical assistance should be sought immediately if VTEC or other illnesses related to handling animals are suspected.

WHAT IS VTEC? ■

■

■

■ ■

VTEC is one of several diseases carried by healthy animals.

Up to 10 per cent of children infected with VTEC develop haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS).

One third of those go on to develop serious complications, such as renal failure, which can require life-long dialysis or kidney transplantation.

Up to five per cent of children with HUS die from the illness.

Other diseases that can be caught from animals: Yersina, tetanus, cryptosporidium, salmonella, campylobacter, giardia, ringworm, leptospirosis.

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Farming

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She’s a lifesaver, she’s loyal and Greg Martin

BRASS AND FEATHERS

I had to get a boat.

It was 2003 and I was visiting New Zealand for the first time. I had parked just off SH85 beside the Ahuriri arm of Benmore and was trying to walk around the bog at the shallow end of the lake with my fly rod.

It was hot and frustrating, mainly because I couldn’t get anywhere near the water.

After 20 minutes of trudging, sinking, and falling down, I gave up and stood looking south. One day I would come back here with a boat.

A month or so later I was back in London sitting in the lounge of my new flat listening to jazz wafting across the Thames from the pub across the river. Hell, yes, I had to get a boat. Every man

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needs a boat. A few weeks later I had wheeled my new ticket to adventure down Broom Road in Teddington. A friend had wound down the window of her VW Beetle.

“I was just thinking: who

is this nutter pushing a boat down the road? And then I saw it was you!” She smiled and waved and drove on.

A hundred yards down the road another man had stopped offered to buy it from me. No

chance. We were going to see the jazz.

“We” was now me and my Grumman canoe-boat. I had found her in a boatyard next to Teddington Lock where she had been left by someone who

had imported her from the US, but then lost interest in the river.

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5

she’s a man’s best friend Dunkirk evacuation in 1940.

Sixty-three years later he was helping me wheel my alloy craft through the yard gates and out on to the road for the walk back to my flat.

I was also thrilled because my new toy also had 1930s aviation pedigree in her shiny silver hull and flush rivets.

Grumman had been an early pioneer of aircraft manufacture and particularly seaplanes.

At some point they had decided to use their knowhow to make alloy canoes, one of which was featured in the landmark 1972 movie Deliverance with Burt Reynolds – A real man-movie.

A movie about boats and adventure. I had watched that movie at least a dozen times.

For the next three years we took friends to the jazz at the Boaters pub on a Sunday evening.

There were trips up river to Guildford, and down river into the centre of London.

I also pioneered catching pike on the fly at Teddington Lock. continued over page

Above – Salmon on the Mak. Above right – Pike on the Thames.

Right – Easy rainbow trout on Benmore.

Far right – Chinook salmon.

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Farming

From P5 And when in 2006 it came time to emigrate to New Zealand, there were only two things that needed to be shipped: the boat, and a box full of boat things.

In December 2006 I was back at Lake Benmore, and I was back with my boat, catching rainbows. So easy, just like I had suspected it would be.

Since then we have drifted the Rakaia chasing salmon, and stalked up West Coast creeks through the bush looking for deer.

We have caught crays off Kaikoura, crossed the Hurunui and Waimak mouths, had picnics on Quail Island, and gone seal watching around the back of Adele Island in the Abel Tasman. We still have to do the Sounds and Fiordland awaits.

She is light enough to launch almost anywhere on your own, unsinkable, and big enough for two fishermen or hunters and whatever gear the adventure may need.

She does about 10km/h with her Honda 3.4hp eco engine.

And those who know their alloy-work always come for a look at the boat that’s built more like a plane.

Yes, people don’t refer to

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BOATING TIPS ■ Reliable engines are very cheap these days.

Get one.

■ Damage to boats almost always happens out of the water.

■ Lifejackets are also good for keeping warm.

■ A small “sea-anchor” is very useful when lake fishing for trout.

■ Keep noise down if you can. Noise is pollution too.

Making my way through a West Coast creek.

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They’re also loyal, lifesaving, and allow for exploration of places few others get to see.

And after a memorable trip or two, they can become a man’s best friend. Mine definitely is.

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ACC ‘gives floor’ to local farmers ACC will be talking with Mid Canterbury farmers this month, to help get a better understanding of the work farmers do, and the challenges they face in their day-to-day activities on the farm.

Insights gained from the conversations will be used to help inform ACC’s injury prevention work.

“This is about giving the farmers the floor, and letting them tell us how things are from their perspective,” ACC’s agriculture programme manager Paul Harrison said.

The conversations will involve one-on-one meetings, as well as small group workshops in some areas.

“We’re really looking to get inside farmers’ heads, because the only way we can develop successful injury prevention initiatives is by making sure they reflect life as it really is on the farm.”

Mr Harrison says those taking part will be encouraged to “tell it like it is, no holds barred.”

“Farmers can contribute to the project and stay anonymous, if they wish to.

ACC wants to hear about safety issues from farmers’ perspectives.

PHOTO ASHBURTON GUARDIAN

Outside of the project team involved, no one will know who was involved in one-onone meetings, and no personal details will be attached to the information we gather.”

ACC plans to talk to a crosssection of grain, sheep, beef and dairy farmers.

The meetings were originally scheduled to start this month, but were postponed because of the number of farmers busy with the early onset of calving.

Mr Harrison says the project is being carried out with the help of organisations such as Federated Farmers, Rural Women and Beef and Lamb, who put out ‘feelers’ to identify farmers interested in being involved. However, ACC is still keen to hear from anyone who’d like to take part.

The meetings are being held in Ashburton, South Taranaki, Hastings and Matamata-Piako - areas chosen because of the significant size of their rural

communities. “We’re mindful of farmers’ busy schedules, so we’ll arrange meetings at any time that suits,” Mr Harrison said.

In some cases, a member of the project team may also ask to spend an hour or two accompanying a farmer as they go about their everyday work.

“ACC is not an enforcement agency, so this is strictly to help build our understanding of a typical day on the farm.

But obviously, we’d only do

this where farmers are happy to have us along,” he said.

ACC received around 16,500 work-related injury claims from farmers last year. On average, these injuries resulted in 10 days of lost productivity per claim. The total cost of farm-related injuries in 2013 was over $42 million.

Farmers from Ashburton, South Taranaki, Hastings and Matamata-Piako who would like to be involved can contact ACC at agriculture@acc.co.nz

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Farming

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Are you ready for an ea Spring is upon us according to the calendar.

It is still shaping up to be an early irrigation season and may be a warm dry one too boot. Soil moisture, soil temperature and the climate prediction all point to an early start. But will it be a long season?

Rob Cope-Williams on his Rob’s Country a couple of week ago put me on the spot so to speak so “I put it out there” – I believe we could be irrigating on light shallow soils under pasture about 1 September; the first day of spring. This is not just “throwing an idea into a conversation”.

I truly consider an early start needs to be on everyone’s agenda, especially pasture irrigators on shallow soils.

The soil moisture deficit has been developing since about July 20, the last time the profile was at field capacity (full point). At this time of the year the deficit is an

Tony Davoren

HYDRO SERVICES

insidious development – at about 0.8mm – 1.0mm/day.

The last few weeks have seen the odd shower and some overcast – not enough to slow the development of soil moisture deficit.

I often harp on about soil temperature and is it warm enough to irrigate?

By soil temperature standards this has not been a cold winter. A minimum temperature at 10cm of 4°C is really not that cold. Since 1 July: ■ ■ ■

The average soil temperature has been 6.6°C The minimum soil temperature has been 4.1°C The maximum soil

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arly irrigation season?

Warm by any standards for winter! And not temperatures that would exclude irrigation beginning now if the deficit is sufficiently large.

Little wonder the grass (and other crops) have been growing. With these soil temperatures there is a significant amount of N mineralisation taking place.

Roughly: ■ ■ ■

With an average soil temperature of 6.2°C; and Five weeks elapsed since 20 July: and Soil moisture not limiting;

About 20-25 per cent of any organic nitrogen will have been nitrified.

So not only has the soil temperature been relatively warm for this time of year, there is also a readily supply

16HMDG2020

of nitrate-N sitting there to kick start growth.

Will it be a long season?

The Southern Oscillation Index is still indicating El Niño conditions; ie the index is still negative, though not as strongly negative as it was shaping to be earlier in July.

It is not “deep” (less than about minus 6 over a two month period, with little change over that period) even though it is consistently negative.

This is consistent with the NIWA outlook; i.e. “the equatorial Pacific Ocean continues to remain ENSOneutral at the end of July 2014, with atmospheric and oceanic conditions failing to sufficiently couple to initiate an El Niño event”.

While the SOI does not provide any definitive answer to “will it be a long dry season” fair warning – be ready to irrigate on light shallow soils under pasture from now.

Ashburton Guardian

irrigation wells potable water supplies water quality testing ground source heating geotechnical assessment 16HMDG2020

■

temperature has been 10.2°C; and The average 9am soil temperature since 20 July has been 6.2°C.

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Farming

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Reclaimed ocean plastics make Take a walk along almost any beach anywhere in the world and washed ashore will almost certainly be either plastic bags and bottles, or containers.

Perhaps plastic drums or polystyrene packing and pieces of polypropylene fishing net and lengths of rope.

Together with disposable lighters, tyres and even toothbrushes, this plastic trash has been casually thrown away on land or at sea and has been carried ashore by wind and tide.

One of the things that makes plastic so useful is its durability; which also makes it a major problem for our oceans, and will continue to do so for generations.

Around 100 million tonnes of plastic are produced each year, of which about 10 million tonnes ends in the sea.

About 80 per cent of this comes from land.

The larger plastic items are the visible signs of a much bigger problem as they break down with wave pressure and sunlight into tiny particles that are easily eaten by fish and other marine species or simply spread even further afield.

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A single one-litre bottle could break down into enough small fragments to put one on every mile of beach in the entire world.

Finding a solution to such a hopelessly massive problem as the plastic waste in the oceans can be a humbling experience.

What can one person possibly do to make a difference? But Tyson Toussant has a plan. And it starts with a pair of jeans.

Toussant is the co-founder of Bionic Yarn, a New York Citybased start-up that makes fabric from recycled ocean plastic, and the company is now launching its biggest collaboration to date with designer clothing company G-Star RAW. The “RAW for the Oceans line” includes a range of denim products that are woven with

some nine tons of ocean plastic inside.

It’s a tiny fraction of the pollution problem, but you have to start somewhere.

Toussant sees blue jeans as a sort of trojan horse in the battle to save the oceans.

The fact is most people are all too aware of the plastic pollution in our oceans but few actually go out of their way to reduce the amount of plastic they use daily, volunteer at an ocean cleanup or buy only

sustainably sourced clothing.

But everyone wears blue jeans, which is why Toussant sees the popular garment as a sort of Trojan horse in the battle to save the oceans.

Weaving ocean plastic into denim, he says, is a way to get consumers to take on some environmental responsibility without sacrificing on style.

Even if every pair of jeans in the world were made from Bionic Yarn, the oceans would still have a plastic problem.

But if every piece of clothing, every shoe, every pillow and couch cushion, blanket and rug were stitched with the stuff, then we might see a dent. So the G-Star collaboration isn’t really about the clothes. It’s a way of getting the business community to begin taking steps, simple as they may be, to creating more sustainable consumer products.

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11

fashion jeans we’re concentrating on, but the world is made up of 75 to 80 per cent water. It’s a huge place to start.

This is just one great example of the commercial applications of practical upcycling.

Upcycled Rural Wearable Waste Competition

that gives the fabric strength and stretch, a middle layer of recycled material that makes up 45 per cent of the yarn, and a top coating of any fibre – be it cotton, wool, linen, or nylon – to give the fabric the desired feel.”

What role can fashion play in the environment?

Fashion clothing can be a universal player in protecting the planet.

Clothing is certainly a huge part of everybody’s lives. You

wear it every day and for some people it’s a status symbol, or a statement of how much they have spent on clothes, or it’s a means of expressing their identity and style and who they are.

Bionic Yarn and G-Star Raw are trying to infiltrate the world of fashion.

It’s a part of sustainability and the cause is to never throw anything [plastics and trash] into the ocean again. The ocean is just one part of the Earth

Back home here in Ashburton it’s time to get creative with family and friends and enter the annual Wearable Waste Competition.

With $500 in cash prizes to be won the 2014 competition features a new upcycled clothing section for clothing you could wear again as well as the ever popular Wearable Art from recycled materials.

For entry details see www. ashburtonshow.co.nz Entry details must be lodged with the Ashburton Show by October 21.

The ‘not to be missed’ parade of Wearable Waste entries will be at the Ashburton Show 11am on November 1.

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2 12

Farming

Business profile

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Geared up to go the extra mile R

obson Environmental is a family business geared up to go the extra mile.

And purchasing Charlie’s Takeaways about a month ago, has ramped up the service the company offers.

With more than 40 years’ experience, Murray Robson knows regular maintenance of septic tanks and effluent systems saves time and money.

“If your sumps are cleaned on a regular basis then there is a lot less likelihood of blockages in effluent systems causing loss of production,” he said.

“It also reduces wear and tear on the pumps.

“Fixing the problem before it happens is easier than panicking when things are not working but the cows still

“

tailings, to liquid wastes.

The company also maintains and services septic tanks and can supply and fit pumps.

Murray and his son’s Kieran and Justin will travel

2 ½ minutes and spread the load in 4m wide strips of pasture, which enables a quick turnaround time.

Spreading the liquid effluent from dairy or pigs by dribble

With the motto “You fill it, I empty it” Robson Environmental is a one-stop-shop for all your industrial and domestic liquid waste needs

need milking.”

Robson’s have a range of vehicles and equipment suitable for sucking up anything from coal, grain and

anywhere in Canterbury; no job is too big or two small.

When it comes to effluent ponds, the trucks can fill 10,000 litres in approximately

bars systems or injection is good, but the cost is hard to justify, in the extra time taken to spread it.

The Robson team prides

itself on its environmental performance. Frequent interaction and cooperation with Environment Canterbury ensures all services and treatment processes are carried out in an environmentally sensitive manner.

With the motto “You fill it, I empty it” Robson Environmental is a one-stopshop for all your industrial and domestic liquid waste needs.

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13

New season, old thoughts Chris Murdoch

PROPERTY BROKERS

As the seasons come and go so too does farmers’ confidence with the main drag being the downwards trend of world dairy prices.

It seems at this point in time we see and hear about price rises and falls only minutes, if not seconds, from when it happens and now of course with the fortnightly dairy product auctions we really do have a finger on the pulse.

Is this good or bad? Dare I say it, in the old days we never really knew what prices were doing from month-tomonth.

In a lot of ways this may have been better because we just got on with the business of farming and producing

In the old days we never really knew what prices were doing from month-to-month.

as much milk for the least amount of money as possible.

If there was a ripper season, like we have just had, then the dairy board would withhold a certain amount back; if next year was heading in the direction this one is they

would prop up the payout.

In today’s world we know America, Europe, UK and Ireland, just to name a few, have had a great production season, so more milk is on the market and affecting world prices. I heard one

commentator say that the world is still short of protein and the cheapest form of protein is milk, so even though prices may be down, milk is still required, and will continue to be in the foreseeable future. On the

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2 16

Farming

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Native The transformation of the Canterbury Plains began with the arrival of humans about 700 years ago.

Forest and scrub was burnt

by Maori to provide easier access and for hunting.

European settlers continued the process and introduced pasture grasses and crops; gradually the Plains became dominated by non-native species such as ryegrass, clover, sheep and grains.

The recent widespread adoption of irrigation and dairying is another change to the agricultural landscape.

The high country also lost huge tracts of forest in early fires; tussock grasslands and scrublands replaced forest on much of the land east of the Main Divide.

Tussock hillsides, fans and matagouri flats were used for extensive grazing by sheep.

Some lower land was cleared and developed with improved pastures, but in most areas a lot of native vegetation and high country “character” survived this regime.

In the Ashburton District Plan, rural areas are divided

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17

vegetation loss in the high country Mary Ralston

FOREST AND BIRD

into three zones: A, B and C. Rural A zone surrounds the main settlements, Rural B zone covers the rest of the Plains and provides for agricultural practices such as dairy farming, cropping, sheep and deer farms.

In Rural Areas A and B, a resource consent is needed to remove any native vegetation except in shelterbelts or private gardens.

This stipulation reflects the scarcity and value of remaining native vegetation remnants.

The Rural C zone applies to the high country, which, according to the district plan, is “renowned for its landscapes, vistas, geology/ geomorphology and biodiversity”.

But in Rural Area C, resource consents for clearing native

vegetation aren’t nearly as strict as in Rural A and B (see box).

For instance, a resource consent is required for clearing an area of native vegetation over 1000m² over a period of five years, but not for a patch smaller than that; and vegetation loss from trampling by stock is considered fair game.

The recent boom in dairying

has become part of the high country with dairy grazers now a valuable contributor to many farm incomes.

Irrigation and cropping has also become commonplace.

The result has been the wholesale clearance of native vegetation in much of the lower high country.

The use of brassicas to feed dairy cattle is now the norm in many areas where there

used to be vistas of matagouri, cabbage trees and short tussock grassland.

A compounding factor in the intensification of the high country is the ECan Nutrient Allocation Zones under the Canterbury Land and Water Regional Plan.

The big rivers of the eastern South Island are deemed green zones – no nutrient limits are set because it is thought the

big flood events can absorb any run-off. This gives free rein to farmers grazing dairy cattle on kale and other potentially high nitrate run-off crops on river flats.

The big braided rivers may well be able to cope with nitrogen run-off but lowland streams, ephemeral creeks and wetlands which are important spawning sites for trout and native fish are in the firing line.

Another factor in this “perfect storm” of vegetation loss is tenure review of pastoral leases: in many cases farmers lost grazing land on the tops in exchange for freehold rights over lower country which they sought to farm more intensively.

Perhaps it was assumed that the lowland vegetation would remain as it was under the old regime, or maybe no-one could foresee the day that friesians took over from merinos.

It seems now that lowland vegetation should have been valued more highly for the native species it sustained and the natural character it gave to the entrance to the high country.

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Farming

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Strive for energy efficiencies, ranged from $500 to over $20,000. Not only that the payback time was quick, so from a farm expenditure point of view the economics stacked up.

On average, our participant farmers could save $8010 annually on electricity (30467 kWh) if they adopt the measures identified.

Upgrading systems cost on average $27,194, but the payback time was just 3.4 years.

IrrigationNZ believes these savings are actually conservative as our evaluations didn’t take into account increased production due to improved performance of irrigation equipment and the impact of water efficiencies.

When it came to water use, improved scheduling, our participant farmers also saw significant savings – between 10 and 15 days over a sixmonth period, which generated further energy savings because the on/off switch was turned off !

The installation of soil moisture measuring devices

was the most recommended action.

So how can other irrigating farmers tap into the pilot study results? First up get along to the Reducing Your Energy Bill workshop (October 2-3) at the upcoming Great Irrigation Challenge training event in Ashburton.

With the support of principal sponsor Aqualinc, this workshop is one of 16 designed to help irrigating farmers save money while improving onfarm irrigation performance.

Additional sponsors include ANZ Bank, Environment Canterbury, Nelson Irrigation Corporation of Australia Pty Ltd and EECA. The Reducing your Energy Bill workshop will outline how to benchmark energy use and identify common energy losses. EECA’s energy audits and current energy plans and pricing options will also be discussed.

Presented by IrrigationNZ project manager Paul Reese and environmental consultant Keri Johnson from Irricon, you can

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register at www.irrigationnz. co.nz-events-and-training or by phoning (03) 341-2225.

The SMART Irrigation programme, launched by IrrigationNZ in April, provides the framework for sustainable, responsible and efficient irrigation. If you haven’t already, check out the SMART Irrigation website (www.smartirrigation.co.nz), which includes best practice recommendations to optimise your system.

You’ll find case studies of irrigators who have successfully reduced their water and power consumption while increasing productivity. The industry standards, codes of practice and accreditation systems that ensure your system is working to its full potential are also outlined.

Irrigation is responsible for around 2.5 per cent of New Zealand’s annual electricity consumption – across 625,151

hectares, mainly in the form of spray irrigation.

As an industry, we have a real opportunity to make significant gains in this area by introducing energy-efficient measures that could lead to a 10 to 20 per cent improvement in performance.

The knock-on effect for New Zealand’s energy bill could be massive – savings of between 110,000 megawatt and 220,000MW per year.

We all have a responsibility to improve the efficiencies of our systems, and if you’re saving money at the same time energy-efficiency should be a no-brainer.

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RU RO R AD AL S

One of the quickest ways to improve farm-profitability is to cut costs. But too often we focus on short-term solutions to reduce expenditure.

What SMART irrigators should aim for are farm system upgrades that produce longterm savings.

IrrigationNZ has just released the results of a pilot study which looks at the impact of energy-efficient measures on water and power use.

Undertaken with the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), the pilot analysed 14 Canterbury and Otago farmers’ irrigation energy use over the past two years.

The results were striking and confirm there is a lot that can be done to improve the energy efficiency of our irrigation systems.

In all but one evaluation, the irrigator was able to make savings in both power and water consumption when energy efficient approaches were applied to irrigation systems. The annual savings

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Farming

2 20

www.guardianonline.co.nz

Program James Bryan is Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) beef industry ambassador at this year’s Five Nations Beef Alliance conference and young leaders programme in the United States.

Twenty-eight-year-old James beat 13 other applicants to win the B+LNZ scholarship, which is now in its fourth year.

The scholarship – which covers the full cost of conference attendance and travel – is offered annually to New Zealanders aged 22 to 32, who are working in and have a passion for the beef industry.

The Five Nations Beef Alliance is a private entity involving the national organisations that represent beef cattle producers in Australia, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand and the United States. It develops strategies to encourage growth in global beef trading, while also addressing any mutual concerns.

The young leaders programme brings young beef producers together through a series of visits to farms, feedlots and sales yards. They also attend the conference and

Aria’s James Bryan, with partner Nadine Huitema, travels to the United States in October, as this year’s Beef + Lamb New Zealand beef industry ambassador at the Five Nations Beef Alliance and young leaders PHOTO YOUNG COUNTRY programme.

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21

mme winner uses expertise on-farm

James Bryan’s family farm runs hereford-angus cows.

roundtable sessions to observe how producer representative organisations work.

This year’s conference and young leaders programme take place in Corpus Christi and Austin, Texas, from 4-11 October.

James grew up on a 660ha sheep and beef property at Aria, in the King Country.

The farm runs 150 herefordangus cross breeding cows and 2500 ewes, as a breeding and finishing unit.

He plays an active role in the management strategy for the family farm and regularly returns home to work

alongside his parents.

James plans to eventually return to the farm, while also pursuing an off-farm career in agricultural consultancy.

No stranger to being a reliable representative, James is heavily involved in Young Farmers New Zealand – both as a committee member for the Waikato/Bay of Plenty branch and as a regular competitor in fencing and debating competitions – and is vice chairman of the MaihiihiMangatutu dog trial club. He also represented New Zealand in 2012, after being selected to attend an agricultural exchange

to Japan. James completed an agricultural commerce degree at Lincoln University and was also a Smedley Station cadet, prior to his university studies.

He is now working for Ravensdown Fertiliser as an agronomy technical manager.

He says the scholarship and opportunity to see how other beef-producing nations operate was too good to pass over.

“The future is bright for protein farmers in general – whether that be milk or meat.

But I believe the industry needs to be a lot more collaborative if we are to get the best prices on the world market.

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“We need to move the production bell curve and lift some of the lower-producing farmers.”

James says he is a pretty good vessel for information. “I will extend the knowledge I pick up out to farmers through my job and by being available to speak to groups of farmers.

My work on farms every day is ideal, as it’s a good way to get information out there.”

B+LNZ sector capacity project manager Doug Macredie says James’ ongoing connection to farming – through his input to the family farm’s direction – impressed

the selection panel.

“James has a vision – to blend the expertise he is developing through his Ravensdown work, into a farm adviser-type role, while still being active in the management of the family farm.

“He sees a wide range of farms and approaches to farming and pasture management.

“He then uses the knowledge he gains from farm A to assist farm B, so to speak.

“This really struck a chord with the selection panel and made James’ application stand out.”

2 22

Farming

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Rethinking the farming future

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per hectare production in countries overseas, has convinced me that agricultural, human and industrial pollution can all be managed to a level to sustain water and soil quality.

This will take a discipline that has been lacking in the past, by some of our pollutant industries.

Recently announced Gross Domestic Product (GDP) estimates by the World Bank for the year 2050 produce some interesting growth forecasts in some areas of the globe in particular.

While USA GDP per capita is expected to remain static in the next 35 years, figures predicting the percentage change for Indonesia, China, and India at 144 per cent, 222 per cent and 300 per cent increases respectively, are quite

2

RURAL COMMENT

technology will all play a part.

Three years ago I stated in this publication that my wish for the Ashburton District was for dairy farm expansion to stabilise.

I also suggested that those seeking to purchase new or expand existing land holding would be unwise to budget on a payout in excess of $5.50 to $6.00 per kg/MS. At the same time I suggested that payouts over $6 could be wisely spent in improving equity, better staff conditions and addressing environmental protection.

While there are many wonderful examples of wellplanted properties with good reliable staff (often migrant), and highly efficient grass to milk conversion ratios, the level of debt in the industry is an ongoing concern.

Locally those dairy farmers to be hit the hardest are those who have “invested” in more land at unrealistically inflated prices, creating a false land market.

Without doubt on-going payments in the $6 range

01

John Leadley

startling.

Even allowing for the flexibility of predictive data this clearly indicates massive demands for animal proteins, fats, fertilisers, soils and fresh water.

To quote Dr Andrew West, vice-chancellor of Lincoln University: “New Zealand has something to offer – we can do what most of the world can’t.

We can farm ruminants at a profit on grass and without subsidy. This happens when much of the world produces milk and red meat from cattle fed on feedlots using subsidised grain.”

At the heart of this massive global predicament over land, water and climate use is lack of skill and confidence in land management.

To this end the expansion and diversification of teaching at Lincoln University is to be applauded with campus and farm expansion to 5000 hectares.

Further emphasis on environmental protection, greater attention to diversification in research and

WI N

The recent downturn in dairy product prices have once again emphasised the cyclical nature of involvement in the food production industry. This situation is nothing new and has been a feature of farming for over a century.

Any analysis of farm product price against purchasing power of the income derived, when graphed shows peaks and troughs similar to a map of the Southern Alps. I’m certain this will continue.

One constant during the past 150 years has been the everincreasing yield per hectare of all manner of soil-based products. This applies be they cereal, horticultural, forestry, pasture, small seed or pulse, and there’s every expectation this will continue.

What must happen is that it be achieved without environmental degradation of our precious soil and water resource.

Experiences in the past three years of very intensified agriculture on land that has been farmed continuously for centuries and ever increasing

Bulk Ear

Sub Divi

Site Wor Transpo

www.guardianonline.co.nz

23

in our land of opportunities

s something to offer t most of the world rm ruminants at a nd without subsidy – Dr Andrew West (above)

Surely with sire selection for growth rate and high lean-to-fat ratio, an outlet for 12 to 18-month male stock is worth pursuing even if grain finishing has to be an option.

Grain finishing to meet high end markets may also be a possibility in the lamb exporting trade – at least it’s worth investigating. It’s already common in subsidised overseas operations.

With the rise in living standards that is occurring across Asia with its massive population, huge opportunities exist for expanding and diversifying protein production for export.

New Zealand – the Ashburton District in particular – has a huge opportunity.

With our favourable climate, proven farming ingenuity, increasingly efficient irrigation systems, and a strong commitment from Australasia’s most prestigious Agricultural University to expand and diversify research, we are on the front foot.

Despite the current TOY4422/DT/A4

two good seasons have had opportunity to financially stabilise their enterprises.

These farms of course retain a greater flexibility to revert to other products.

Will the current national sheep flock at 29 million, return to the 50 million plus of a generation ago? I doubt it, at least in the short term.

However, I do see a significant increase in demand for sheep meat in Asia. A national flock where 100 per cent lambing as hogget and 160 per cent in later years as a realistic possibility, is a far cry from the 100 per cent national lifetime breeding percentage a generation ago.

Some years ago a delegation of Indonesian Government officials visited Ashburton to discuss possible beef purchase from New Zealand.

At the time I keenly promoted research into dairy beef export potential firstly as a means of product diversity, but also to stop the slaughter of thousands of stock in their first month of life.

Recent visits to European dairy farms where very highproducing dual purpose stock are common – Denmark, Switzerland, Belgium and the like – have renewed my interest in this possibility.

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uncertainty of dairy prices, New Zealand is set to continue its significant place as a producer of affordable quality food.

Couple these attributes with enhanced enforceable environmental controls and the future still looks bright for the farming industry.

If farming and sale of its products to meet the everincreasing demand for food is not the way forward for this country, I don’t know what is.

A key part of future investment in agriculture needs to be in promoting agriculture and its accompanying industries as a rewarding, secure and prestigious occupation.

Being part of the most important industry in New Zealand at any level is an important occupation. Be it dairy worker, truck driver, freezer hand, engineer, or any of the multitudes of allied skilled occupations to farm owner; each is but a cog in the wheel of our nation’s economy.

Please academics and paper shufflers give then the credit

they deserve!

For over 100 years this nation has thrived on the back of land and water production.

I see little change in the future.

Maybe it’s time to take another look at a cereal juice extraction plant similar to that which gained resource consent to operate at Pendarves 10 to 15 years ago.

Economics at the time saw this promising project stall, but the international trading scenario is vastly different in 2014.

Thousands of hectares in Europe are devoted to cereal silage production for this very product, which is a daily nutritional supplement available in hospitals and schools.

It was enlightening at the consent hearing to have displayed a sample container of the powder, no larger than a tennis ball, but that was retailing at $NZ80 on the Japanese market.

Examples like this emphasise the need for research and development.

We certainly live in a land of opportunities.

Farming

2 24

Health and safety

www.guardianonline.co.nz

Health & Safety plans D

o you have a “she’ll be right” attitude about Health and Safety procedures on your farm? In the event of a serious accident only the upmost vigilance will cut it.

Is your business compliant?

A Health and safety plan - the item on the to-do list that you know you should do properly but it just never quite seems to get done! Or, your manual was written a couple of years ago and it hasn’t been updated to reflect the latest industry changes… sound a little familiar?

Staggeringly the agricultural sector has some of the highest numbers of workplace injuries, disease and fatalities experienced in New Zealand’s history. Put simply, our farmers, and their staff, are not always going home healthy and safe at the end of the day.

Health and safety is a shared responsibility. Everyone from the owner, through to the sharemilker and then farm staff all have an active part to play to ensure the team is safe.

The health and safety reform bill stands to place more emphasis on these shared

Jane Fowles.

In the event of a serious workplace accident - are you ready?

responsibilities. With this, one of the biggest challenges a farmer has to face is applying not only a paper based record of health and safety protocols but instigating a shift within their culture as a whole.

Given the nature of the farm, under the reform bill everyone from directors, to owners, managers and sharemilkers are going to have an active part to play - they will all need to carry some level of responsibility towards workplace safety.

Employers have a duty of care to make sure their team stays unharmed on their farm.

In a recent case, a Mangakino sharemilker, who had adopted the health and safety system of the farm owner, had an otherwise exemplary record towards equipment, experience and training. Unfortunately, a farm worker overturned his quad bike and was asphyxiated when it fell on top of him. The sharemilker pleaded guilty to a single charge under the Health and Safety in Employment Act for failure to have a map of 'no go' zones on the farm, and failing to provide this to the farm employees. He was

ordered to pay a reparation of $75,000 to the family of the deceased farm worker, and to pay a fine of $28,150. This is the first such example of a prosecution of this kind.

This case gives us an insight into the new Bill, and the greater scrutiny the ‘person conducting a business or undertaking’ will face. The new Bill imposes clear personal responsibilities on the directors and managers involved, rather than just the trust that owns or manages the farm.

Now is the time to take the to-do list and tick off all of the boxes!

We need to ensure all health and safety measures are met, ensuring that everyone is actively demonstrating and playing their part in good health and safety practices.

Can you afford to be complacent?

Have a question for me on Health and safety compliance or HR? Phone me now on 0800BIZSAFE advice or book your free workplace H & S health check.

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Health and Safety

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Know where your cables are E

A Networks is urging all property owners to be aware of the location of the electricity cables on their land, especially those that are underground. A recent near miss incident has highlighted the need for improved awareness and onproperty safety, especially on farms.

“These cables can be very high voltage, up to 22,000 volts or more, and accidentally coming into contact with a high-voltage electricity cable is extremely dangerous,” said EA Networks operations manager, Ken Stirling.

All lines need to be treated as live, said Mr Stirling. “Assuming otherwise or taking shortcuts can mean risking your life.”

Property owners may not be aware that all underground and overhead electricity cables located on their property are their responsibility. As well as being dangerous, damage to cables can lead to power outages and interruptions.

Property owners need to understand that they can be liable for damage caused to electricity infrastructure, as well as the potential impact of any power outages, said Mr Stirling. “While we certainly don’t go out of our way to take legal action, it’s important to understand your responsibilities with

any cables on your land.”

Safety and supply issues are not just an issue with hidden underground cables. It is important to be mindful of overhead electricity cables, particularly in the upcoming irrigation season.

Trees need to be kept well-trimmed and away from cables, and caution should be used when shifting farm machinery.

Property owners should be proactive and ensure that their staff and any contractors working on the property are aware of all potential hazards.

“Any supply faults caused by colliding with overhead electricity cables don’t just affect the owner, but can also affect neighbours on surrounding properties that operate from the same feeder,” said Mr Stirling.

Anyone who is unsure where cables are located on their property can contact EA Networks Contracting to request a cable location and markout. “Our guys provide accurate information, for you and anyone else that works on your property,” said Wayne Watson, EA Networks contracting manager. “This is vital information for any property owner to have.”

Advertising feature

UNDERGROUND CABLE

Property owners are encouraged to know the location of cables on their land.

UNDERGROUND CABLE

25

Farming

2 26

www.guardianonline.co.nz

Europen prices up for NZ venison European market prices for chilled New Zealand venison are reported to be up about 5 per cent on last year, with exporters hopeful of reduced competition from European game meat supplies. But prices to farmers are currently being held back by a stronger New Zealand dollar.

Venison exporters have recently indicated they see the venison schedule potentially reaching $8/kg for 55-60 kg AP stags. This would be similar to the 2012 national average published schedule peak of $7.95/kg and much better than last year’s peak of $7.40/kg.

The main factor restraining prices to farmers at this point in the traditional chilled game meat season is currency, with the Kiwi dollar 8.4 per cent stronger against the Euro than at the same time last year. This is reflected in an average schedule that is 7 per cent weaker.

The spring schedule peak runs through to the end of October. That allows time for the last animals to be from ARU e v i TIM lus Exc OP™ OW SH N L H O STI EM

D

The Edendale deer sale.

processed by the beginning of November and shipped to Europe for consumption over the Christmas/New Year

PHOTO ASHBURTON GUARDIAN

period.

DINZ chief executive Dan Coup says the fundamentals of the European market are

looking better, with other red meats steady or firm in price and reports that wild shot game may be less available than last year. There are also anecdotes that some chefs who bought cheaper European shot venison found they had made a mistake … that the superior quality of New Zealand venison justified its higher price.

“Price trends for game meats in Europe are not directly linked to sheepmeat and beef prices, but if beef prices are firming, it makes it easier to sell venison at a good price. The reverse also applies,” Mr Coup said.

“A wild card is the possible impact of EU sanctions in response to Russia’s involvement in the Ukraine civil war.

“This has consequences for the supply of protein in the European market, and risks impeding economic growth through restricting trade with Russia.”

The leg cuts, loins and some other items like rolled shoulder roasts are exported chilled each season. Cuts

from non-eligible animals and manufacturing type products go into the frozen game meat trade.

New Zealand chilled loins and legs are currently selling at a premium over frozen of Euro 5/kg and Euro 3/kg respectively – this premium is the driver of the spring schedule price in New Zealand.

Mr Coup says improved access to China is likely to have a firming influence on prices to farmers in due course.

“Its early days, but it is reasonable to expect that the access approvals given to all our major export plants will provide them with a more direct route to Chinese buyers of tails, pizzles, sinews and other co-products,” Mr Coup said.

“Already, exporters are reporting inquiry from Chinese buyers interested in lower value venison cuts. Given the size of the potential market, even a small increase in demand could have a big influence on prices.”

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Seed

www.guardianonline.co.nz

27

Leaders in fodderbeet cropping At a recent seminar held by Ashburton company Cates Grain and Seed Ltd, farmers had the opportunity to hear experts speak about the value of fodderbeet as a winter feed crop and how to maximise the potential of the crop.

The key message the company was promoting was the unique and specific fodderbeet service it offers, not only in terms of a full agronomy package but also in animal nutrition. The strategies Cates Grain and Seed are implementing are innovative and cost effective which has driven the growth of fodderbeet within the company and Mid Canterbury.

Cates’ agronomist Patrick Davis spoke about the importance of knowing the history of the paddock prior to planting fodderbeet.

This included checking for residual chemicals, which may have been used on previous crops, and could potentially damage fodderbeet. He also recommended soil testing and adjusting pH levels to above 6 with the application of lime.

A fine, firm and moist

seedbed is critical to ensure a fast even germination.

Potassium is an important nutrient, and needs to be applied with nitrogen to meet crop demand from January through to the end of March, in line with paddock specific recommendations.

Mr Davis also discussed the importance of executing herbicide applications at the correct time to ensure the crop has no competition whilst facilitating leaf production.

In conclusion Mr Davis stated that a successfully grown fodderbeet crop can

offer clients very high returns per hectare compared to other available forage options.

Senior lecturer in ruminant nutrition Dr Jim Gibbs, from Lincoln University, is one of the country’s foremost experts on fodderbeet nutrition.

Dr Gibbs said paddock design was an important factor in establishing a successful fodderbeet crop and recommended space for transition, a long face length allowing for at least one linear metre per animal and sufficient access to water.

In Dr Gibbs opinion transitioning cows onto fodderbeet is the most important part of the feeding process and if executed correctly invariably leads to successful wintering.

With mixed age cows, he suggested starting at a fodderbeet ration of 1-2 kilos of DM, increasing in increments of 1kg DM every second day, with the balance of the diet being made up of good quality silage or grass and straw.

Dr Gibbs advocates an ad-lib feeding system, rather

than feeding under the wire, in order to maximise animal intakes and body condition score gain over winter.

He said supplements should only be fed as required, as the more supplements a cow eats the less fodderbeet it will eat resulting in higher wintering costs and reduced animal performance.

Once transitioned mixed age cows and heifers only require 2-3 kg’s of straw and will eat in excess of 10kg’s of fodderbeet.

Rising one year old heifers have performed well on fodderbeet through implementing an adjusted transition program incorporating silage as a protein component throughout their time on the crop.

Supplementation with phosphorous is important for cows to limit metabolic issues post grazing.

Last season Cates Grain and Seed clients successfully wintered a significant number of cows on fodderbeet using the systems discussed at the seminar.

For comprehensive advice, specific to fodderbeet

Come to us, the specialists.

Our service includes: • Paddock selection and design • Fertiliser programmes based on soil tests • Crop agronomy • Transition planning • Specialist nutritional advice through Dr Jim Gibbs

Patrick Davis 0274796094 patrick@cates.co.nz Corey Hastie 0274335793 corey@cates.co.nz Nicholas Williams 0272732786 nicholas@cates.co.nz

Limited amounts of seed still available Contact us on 0800900308

Paul Winter 0274341787 paul@cates.co.nz Martin Reid 0274323269 martin@cates.co.nz Kasey Morris 0272106556 kasey@cates.co.nz

2 28

Farming

Seed

www.guardianonline.co.nz

Maize hybrids bred to perform P

acific Seeds product development programme is delivering big benefits to New Zealand maize growers.

With over 20 regional small plot trials in the programme the genetic gains being realised are world class.

“Since the appointment

of our maize product development specialist, Scott Shaw, the last four years have seen genetic gains of up to two per cent per annum averaged across the portfolio,” said Territory Manager Barry Smallridge.

“There has also been a

substantial increase in the number of products in our maize portfolio, with a strong focus on dual purpose products that will deliver optimal and stable yields of both silage and grain,” he added.

Yield stability is a critical component of a superior

hybrid and Pacific Seeds aims to provide growers with hybrids they can depend on. To enable this Mr Shaw has developed a research programme to comprehensively evaluate yield, quality and agronomic characteristics of the most

“If you’re looking for maize hybrids that consistently deliver - whatever the conditions Pacific Seeds has got you covered.”

Tony Schoy

Mid Canterbury

During the past 3 years PAC 062 has proven to be an excellent performer for shorter seasons.

It really suits this region with yields up around 22.8 tonnes/ha and excellent cob to stover.

TRIED, TESTED, PROVEN: Pacific Seeds maize hybrids are bred to deliver strong performance across the following:

Dry matter yields and grain yield/quality.

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Al Park

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advanced hybrids from global breeders.

These trials are conducted by a small team, using stateof-the-art equipment and some very smart systems.

The impact to contractors/ growers field operations is minimal and the benefit to the growers is unrivalled. The Pacific Seeds’ programme is fully transparent with growers provided with a full list of trial entries and a trial map so that they can walk the trial on their own, or with Mr Shaw during the grain filling period.

This means that growers can be absolutely confident that the information they receive from the trial can be traced back to exactly what they saw in the field and there is no hiding behind ‘codes’.

“We need the feedback,” said Mr Shaw. “Because before a hybrid is considered for commercial release we want to know that it measures up in every way”.

All trial systems follow industry best practice to determine relative performance of the hybrids, utilising a three tier trialling system to accommodate new material entering the programme, as well as more advanced trial hybrids and competitor material. Management trials including planting rates are also included.

“All our commercial hybrids have undergone at least three years of testing in over 30 trials across multiple regions targeted to their maturity.

Results are independently analysed so growers can have the utmost confidence in their performance capabilities,” said Barry.

PAC 065 and 062, which have both performed well for Canterbury growers, have been developed under this exacting trial regime.

Mr Shaw is always looking for new trial opportunities and would like to encourage anybody interested in hosting a trial to contact him directly.

• For further details phone Barry Smallridge 027 494 7706. Full hybrid details are available @ www. pacificseeds.co.nz

Seed

www.guardianonline.co.nz

29

Still going strong after 25 years S

mith Seeds was formed 25 years ago by father and son team Ross and Grant Smith who were joined shortly after by younger son Michael.

Originally working from home, they some 14 years ago moved to their present office and warehouse in Moore Street, Ashburton.

Early research identified a niche market for seed production for the Asian region.

Poor climatic conditions in Asian regions are not conducive to quality seed production and trials showed a possibility for New Zealand production of their species.

Initially they were vegetable brassica species, very different from our fodder varieties.

After early success with these vegetable, Smith Seeds expanded rapidly to almost all Asian countries and now has grown to become a production leader in both Asian and European regions.

Smith Seeds can now offer growers a wide range of vegetable species.

Also of importance is the

“

number of agronomists Smith Seeds provide as full time service to ensure high yield harvests and top quality seeds, This quality service to both our growers and overseas customers has been essential to our continued growth.

With this success came further possibilities with an approach from Seminis (one of the world’s largest vegetable

breeders) to form a partnership to produce and market their pea varieties in New Zealand and Australia.

This production and marketing arrangement has added another dimension to Smith Seeds business, substantially increasing their business volume.

Approximately 70-80 per cent of the vegetable seeds

ATTENTION ARABLE FARMERS

exported from New Zealand come from the mid Canterbury area.

Overall their business continues to expand with 95 per cent of the vegetable seed exported and about 25 per cent of the processing pea seed exported.

So Smith Seeds have established a seed production company that has dramatically

Approximately 70-80 per cent of the vegetable seeds exported from New Zealand come from the Mid Canterbury area

changed the range of crops available to growers.

This has allowed them to diversify from the previous wheat, barley and oats that used to dominate the arable scene.

Travellers can now see in the early summer, many fields with their bright yellow, blue, white and purple flowers these adding not only to the scenery but to the increased options and profits of the growers.

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Visit pggwrightsongrain.co.nz for more information on Sensas or Garner pggwrightsongrain.co.nz

2 30

Farming

Seed

www.guardianonline.co.nz

Seed specialists Love of farming M

cCaw Seeds has access to every pasture seed and brassica variety on the market. With years of experience as a producer, processor, and end user of seeds, Peter McCaw can offer practical, independent advice on the best seed for any situation – at the best price.

Seed Cleaning

crop-drying facilities (box and trailer driers, drying silos and drive-on floors) ensures the company can always take in seed during the peak harvest period.

The McCaw Seeds plant uses four independent dressing lines including a high capacity Cimbria 107. Specialist equipment includes spirals, pod crushing and threshing equipment and a Buhler Sortex Z+2: the highest capacity colour separator in the Australasian seed industry.

Call in or phone Martin or Peter for a personalised appraisal of your pasture seed or seed-dressing requirements.

McCaw Seeds has the facilities, technology and expertise to process virtually any crop to the highest standards.

The company’s intake system boasts a certified weighbridge, seed laboratory ‘Choose McCaw Seeds because of our to accurately estimate dressing loss and experience and you will choose us again equipment to unload trucks as fast as because of yours’. the seed will come out the tail door.

Advertising feature A large investment in storage and

U

ntill Ltd is born out of a love of farming and working on the land.

I, along with my two highly experienced operators, share much enthusiasm for seeing great results for our customers.

Given that all of us have grown up farming we really appreciate just how important the process of seeding is.

Each of us farmed in a time when cropping systems were limited or least explored. Each from different decades, scales, and systems.

We all agree, that no matter how you choose to sow a crop, you are making the most important first step in securing that crops potential.

This we should all realise this and at Untill Ltd we do!

We also share a passion for the biology under our feet. The life in our soils need to be nurtured. Science proves the importance of the biota under of feet in regard to maintaining soil quality and hence food production.

There is in a hand full of “healthy” soil more living organisms than there are people on planet Earth.

These are hungry organisms that, for many, at the top of the food chain is crop residue.

For others it may be, fungi, bacteria, exudes from living plants.

Most importantly many of these

critters rely on the presence of the other. Without good soil management and feeding of the right diet the soil life begins to decline and crop performance follows.

The way in which soil is cultivated is the other most limiting factor for soil biology. There is incredible damage done to the near surface population.

Incidentally this is the most important zone.

So it stands to reason that the greater the disturbance the more lives are threatened.

Nowhere in nature really do you see intensive cultivation. It is an invention of man to succeed in a time when options were limited. In nature plant residue drops on the ground seeds are trod in or mulched over. Micro fauna thrives and the soils produce.

So when you expect to sow your crop in one pass in a No-Till system as we do then it stands to reason that our customers get the best results when we use a tool that provides the best seed bed.

We know that our Cross Slot drills give our customers the best crop establishment we can. Step one complete the seedling can thrive from day one establish strongly and with all things going well produce to its potential.

Advertising feature

UNT LL

Crop establishment is what we do best at UNTILL. Utilising our renowned Cross Slot No-Tillage drills we can sow crops of all types into all of the soil types you can imagine with outstanding success. From vegetable to maize and the more common cereal and Pulse crops, brassica crops pastures all respond well to this advanced sowing system. Fertiliser down the spout is one of the much appreciated benefits to our customers.

We pride ourselves on keeping our machinery in top condition and offering good advice through experience based on a lifetime of farming with the past 17 years exclusively No-Till, to give our customers the best results.

Second hand Cross Slot drills available.

91 Mt Harding Road, Methven, RD6, Ashburton Tel 03 302 8872 or Call Mark Scott 027 221 6070

www.crossslot.com

www.guardianonline.co.nz

Seed

31

PMR GRAIN SYSTEMS

Seed Cleaning P

MR Grain Systems of Hinds are able to offer a full service when it comes to seed cleaning equipment.

This ranges from manufacturing field intake bins through to bagging off bins, the manufacturing of grain cleaner support stands and stairways.

PMR are pleased to be able to offer equipment from the following manufacturers who are all heavily involved in the seed cleaning/grading

CROP STORAGE AND HANDLING SYSTEMS

business.

Arrowcorp (assorted equipment spirals etc), Kipp Kelly (gravity tables), Premier (indent cylinders), Oliver Manufacturing (gravity tables, destoners, bed driers), Q-Sage (precision grain cleaners, de-awners, vibratory conveyors) and Perry (seed elevators).

From the above we can tailor any job to suit whether a new complete line or just add on’s.

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Fluidised Bed Drier being fitted under a platform to take a Seed coating machine.

Q-Sage Cleaner Grader being set up.

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Typical seed cleaning setup. Field Bin, Q-Sage Cleaner, Elevators and in the foreground the dressed weigh bin for bagging off of seed.

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PMR are pleased to announce that they have been appointed the sole distributor for the range of Harvest International Augers in NZ. Harvest Augers come in sizes from 8” through to 13” diameter and 32’ long up to 112’ long.

Harvest Augers are available with either hydraulic lift or winch lift, swing away hoppers or standard inlet hoppers.

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Farming

2 32

www.guardianonline.co.nz

Strategic approach for your herd

BY LAURIE GRAY, VETERINARIAN, VETENT RIVERSIDE

P

lan a proactive and strategic approach for your herd this mating season – newspaper article Even though you are all still extremely busy getting calves out of your cows, you need to be planning how to get them back in!

At VetEnt Riverside, we see positive effects on reproductive performance when we work alongside our

clients, creating a personalised “plan of attack” for their mating period.

Discussions with our clients are based around the key questions: Where is your herd’s reproduction performance now?

What are your goals for the herds’ reproduction?

What options to you have to get there?

Information is crucial to finding out the current

reproductive performance of a herd, deciding on key areas to focus on and making management decisions going forward.

The Fertility Focus Report, found on Infovet and MindaPRO, is the first point of call. This provides the results of reproduction KPI’s for each herd and rates the KPI’s compared to industry targets. Further analysis of pregnancy testing results is also considered – what was the

Prepare For Mating!

Join VetEnt Riverside and LIC to hear about the latest research and discuss key factors influencing your herds mating performance. Topics covered will include:

• •

is drawn up – body condition scoring the whole herd a month prior to the planned start of mating is often booked in, along with pre mating blood tests to ensure trace element status is optimal for mating.

To find out what your herds’ current performance is, to discuss setting targets and to plan for mating this season, contact the dairy team at VetEnt on 03 308 2321.

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conception rate to CIDR’s last season? How well did the non cycling cows perform? What intervention worked well and what could we do better?

The areas to focus on in order to get the best ‘bang for you buck’ will be different for each farm (for example, some farms have poor performing R3’s, where as others have low submission rates and high numbers of non cycling cows).

Once decisions have been made, the plan for the season

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Youngstock: opportunities to be gained from meeting live weight targets.

Noncyclers: it is all about days in milk and AB calves.

Heat detection: how does new technology fit in?

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Spring is here and we’re ready S

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pring is here! And we are stocked and ready to see what spring has to offer!

We have recently started stocking a few brands that may be known to all.

Rover has been around for a number of years and is well known for their trusty mowers and core products such as log splitters and tillers.

We are now stocking a wide Rover range with 21 and 33 ton log splitters at very reasonable prices.

“

We are now stocking a wide Rover range with 21 and 33 ton log splitters at very reasonable prices

Also with a range of rear and side discharge mowers at very affordable prices, this is why Rover is one of the number one selling mowers

Lester, Sam (store manager), Nathan and Rachel.

worldwide.

Honda generators have been a very popular option for a lot of farms and lifestyle blocks as we all know how difficult it can be when the power gets knocked out.

Hence why we decided to start stocking them and we have a variety in stock currently priced to sell.

Alongside these great branded outdoor tools we also stock Masport President push

mowers, Hustlers versatile zero turn mowers, bearcat chipper shredders and Billy Goat lawn care range such as their lawn vacuum shredder.

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Farming

www.guardianonline.co.nz

40,000 cows say Powder an option they prefer a Redpath clear roof shelter 2 34

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Farmers wanting to get more milk back into the vat while also juggling calf rearing demands should not be afraid to make the switch to a quality powder replacement in a single shift.

Calf rearing expert Dr Bas Schouten is urging farmers not to rule out a calf milk replacement (CMR) later in the calf rearing season as colostrum and waste milk sources start to dry up, or bank managers want to see more milk in the vat. He urges them to consider whey powder for their first choice.

“CMR can offer some constructive opportunities without inducing a check in growth or creating unnecessary health problems during transition,” Dr Schouten says.

“The old-fashioned practice used to be to make any changes in feeding gradually.

However, from experience I know it is better for the calf to make the shift in one move, from whole milk to whey based type powders, as this will cause no problems with scours or weight loss.

A transition-type diet may play havoc over time with a calf ’s digestive system, and may induce some growth check.

Dr Schouten has been working closely with Agrivantage, importers of high quality Dutch-based Sloten SprayFo whey-based powder to increase farmer knowledge of the benefits in using wheybased powders.

“It is not for nothing that infant milk

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formula is predominately whey based, sometimes even entirely whey based, and the reasons behind that apply as equally to calves as they do to humans,” Dr Schouten said.

He has long advocated the use of whey dominant calf milk replacers as an option to casein-based milk replacement powders.

Whey-dominant replacers are digested more quickly by the calf, with a quality formula typically absorbed through the gut within three hours, compared to five to eight for a traditional casein-type formula.

Dr Schouten says farmers wanting to simplify the feeding regime for their calves over the later part of the rearing season can also do so by using a concentrated whey-based formula.

“You could go from say five litres to three litres once a day by increasing the concentration of powder in the mix, by putting in 200g per litre instead of 125g.

It just concentrates the mix and delivers the same level of nutrients that they need.”

Another option could be to move from five litres of whole milk down to four litres, and add in 125g of whey powder directly to the mix, so the final feed rate is now 4.1 litres.”

“You can make that change quite safely.

You could also use whole milk to feed the younger calves, and then move straight over to whey-based powder for the older

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35

later in calf-rearing season calves after a certain age. This is a simple solution that has proven to work well, particularly when you have staff involved and need to keep the process clear and simple.”

Using whey-based powders can also help in getting calves on to harder feeds sooner, always the cheaper option to milkbased energy source.

Having the calf ’s rumen develop quicker is also a “no brainer” in the larger scheme of that calf ’s life, Dr Schouten said.

“Ultimately you want a healthy, efficient pasture-feeding ruminant and the quicker you can get that calf to that stage, the greater your choice over where and how you manage it, either on the farm or off the farm grazing.”

Almost 90 per cent of calves in Europe have been reared on whey-dominant formulation and around two thirds of calves in the United States.

Agrivantage managing director Warren Tanner said the SprayFo formula draws heavily on quality human nutritional ingredients, including the use of hydrolysed wheat proteins, renowned for their digestibility over cheaper soy sourced protein.

The high quality protein compounds reduce nutritional scouring risk in calves under three weeks old, and it has been proven in Dutch trials to contain the optimal 23 per cent optimal protein level for young calves.

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All provided by a Company based in Tinwald.

Gary McCormick Transport Ltd PO Box 5044, Tinwald, Ashburton 7741 | Phone: 3072100 | Fax: 3072101

Farming

2 36

www.guardianonline.co.nz

Leasing the farm out? Key Leasing is a practical and viable alternative to sale, particularly where the landowner wishes to ease back but still keep options open for the next generation.

However, the decision to give away possession of the farm and allow another to farm it their way is not an easy one to make.

A lease creates a binding and enduring relationship so the parties need to think carefully through the arrangements and be clear in terms of expectations.

There is no such thing as a “standard” farm lease.

Although some specifics such as term, area, and rental must be addressed, other terms are optional and need to be agreed between the parties.

These additional terms may include the following matters:

Landowner access

CSE LAW

some access rights to the property, such as the right to clear fallen trees for firewood or maintain regular access to ponds for duck shooting.

If the landowner wishes to remain living in the homestead and have use of the surrounding area, these areas need to be specifically excluded from the lease area.

In addition, the parties need to reach agreement as to the apportionment of any outgoings affecting both the homestead/surrounds and the farm land.

SAFER Maintenance RURAL obligations ROADS

This can be a difficult issue.

The distinction between what

RU RO R AD AL S

Leases give ‘exclusive possession’ to the lessee.

It may be, however, that the landowner wants to reserve

Olivia Fitzgerald

is maintenance and what is improvement (a capital expense) is important.

For longer-term leases, capital expenditure may be agreed as part of the leasing proposal If so, the lease agreement should state who pays for the capital item and what effect that capital expenditure will have on the rent.

Regular property inspections are an important part of a lease agreement.

An annual report recording the condition of the property, documented fertiliser inputs, soil tests and so on can be a useful tool. A few digital photos kept on file could help here too. It is an opportunity for the parties to discuss any issues and keep things out in the open.

Ownership of improvements If the lessee is making capital improvements to the farm, for example, constructing new yards, who

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owns those improvements and will the lessee be compensated at the end of the lease? If they are to be purchased by the landowner, the lease needs to include a process to determine the value of these improvements.

Permitted use The landowner may want to restrict the use of the land

to certain farming activities.

If a change of the pre-leased land use is requested by the lessee, consideration should be given to what effect any changes will have on the soil fertility, pastures or the general state of the property on termination.

Fertiliser What are the landowner’s

www.guardianonline.co.nz

37

considerations to look at One of the things that needs to be dealt with when you are leasing your property out is fertiliser. Fertiliser requirements should be set relative to the lessee’s use of the property.

term and will generally require any cropped areas to be in permanent pasture at the expiry of the lease.The lease should be clear on the permitted crops, the cropping rotation, the level of grass cover the landowner requires at the expiry of the lease and the arrangements for harvesting of any late crops.

Rent review

requirements in terms of maintaining or improving soil fertility? The fertiliser requirements should be set relative to the lessee’s use of the property and the landowner should have the ability to check that the fertiliser requirements are being adhered to, such as obtaining copies of invoices for fertiliser applied. Again, for longer-term leases,

consideration should be given to soil testing before the lessee takes possession. The results of the soil testing can then be used as the base fertility levels at the expiry of the lease.

Cropping and regrassing The landowner may wish to impose specific cropping limitations during the lease

cial Spe ce pri this h nt mo 0

Resource consents/ land and water regional plan Where the lessee is to have the benefit and use of the landowner’s consents then the responsibility and liability for adhering to the terms of the consents needs to be considered. The Land and Water Regional Plan is too vast a topic for this article, however the parties need to consider the provisions of the Plan and agree on their respective obligations to ensure compliance, especially where permitted use could trigger the need for a specific resource consent.

Subdivision/option to purchase Is it foreseeable that the landowner will want or need to cut off a block of land

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during the term of the lease?

If so, the terms should be recorded as part of the lease document.

The lessee could perhaps have first right of refusal to purchase the subdivided block at a price to be agreed.

If there is a compulsory purchase clause in the lease agreement, consideration and discussion on the issues surrounding this is imperative, ie How will the value be set for the purchase? What are the GST issues?

By considering these matters at the outset it can help establish and maintain a good relationship between the lessor and lessee. Early and open communication is the key to a successful lease.

Working with your advisors to draft a written agreement which sets out all of the terms and conditions from the beginning is the best way of meeting both the lessor and lessee’s expectations and minimises any risk of misunderstanding and uncertainty in the future.

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The lease needs a clear process for establishing the new rental at the relevant review date.

If a lessee is making improvements to the farm by way of farm management, additional fertiliser or improving capital items, should their rent be based on the improved farm or on the farm in the condition that it was when they took over? This is frequently an area where conflict develops, often escalating to involve matters outside the terms of the rent review. A clear rent review mechanism is a means

of removing the possibility of conflict and maintaining a good relationship between landowner and lessee.

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www.guardianonline.co.nz

39

Smooth riding this spring Jenny Paterson

W

BSC ZOOLOGY AND BIOLOGY

ith the weather warming and days getting longer people get motivated to saddle up and get riding. And it is Show time and they want their horses to look and perform at their best. But spring can be the most difficult time to have a horse that is sane and safe to have a nice ride, let alone go to the A & P Show! Horses are prone to being hyper-sensitive, spooky, itchy and twitchy.

Head-flicking is triggered, metabolic horses get laminitis and normally quiet horses can lose the plot.

Here are some pointers for enjoying your horse this spring whether you want to compete or just have the quiet ride at the weekend.

1. Eliminate clover where

possible, as soon as spring growth kicks in. Horses have completely different dietary requirements than cattle and clover is not a natural part of their diet.

Talk to your contractor about which broadleaf spray to use. Double strength MCPA is good. If you are growing hay this will also eliminate other undesirables such as cat’s ear and docks.

2. When contemplating applying fertilisers to pastures think twice: Horses in their various natural habitats derive their nutrition by consuming a lot of mouthfuls of a variety of low nutrient density forage. Growing good horse grass is not about yield.

Commercial fertilisers such as super-phosphate, DAP, NPK, potash, urea, will give you short term rapid growth but the grass will be detrimental to your horse’s health and behaviour.

3. Continue to feed at least some hay every day until the grass ‘dries off ’.

Spring grass has a high water content and

inadequate fibre content to feed the flora in the horse’s hind-gut. Avoid cowpat manure at all costs. Ideal grass for horses in spring is a paddock that has been saved since autumn.

4. Adding salt (in the form of sodium chloride) to feeds will help to avoid spring metabolic and behaviour issues. You would be surprised how beneficial this is especially when fed longterm.

Without a doubt this has been ‘the nutritional tip of the century’.

5. Spring grass is particularly low in sodium at the same time as having a higher water content creating a challenge for any livestock to maintain the correct concentrations vital for normal cell metabolism, nerve and muscle function.

6. Feed premium vitamins and minerals with supplements formulated to avoid your horse becoming ‘grassaffected’. Since spring grass already has a very high potassium content avoid adding potassium rich feeds.

Signs of magnesium deficiency are actually caused by the potassium excess.

7. If your laminitis prone horse or pony starts walking ‘stiffly’, shows pinking of the laminae, any sign of sore feet whatsoever or hardening of the crest then urgent removal from all green is required.

If horses and ponies need to be locked up it is vital they do not run out of hay even for a few hours.

Aside from the fact you don’t want to cause yet another problem (ulcers) it is essential to their well-being that they have something to chew on all day. It keeps them contented.

8. If your horse’s demeanour or behaviour changes in any way then make appropriate adjustments to the diet immediately. This may range from increasing supplements, restricted access to or complete removal from grass.

9. If your gut feeling is that your horse isn’t safe to ride then don’t get on.

Ideal grass for horses to graze in spring - a Paddock saved since Autumn.

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Farming

www.guardianonline.co.nz

Cante top r

Wayne Allan and Richard Wakelin.

PHOTO SUPPLIED

Congratulations to Robin Ford on his success at our recent national awards

* * * * * * * * *

His vision to understand seasonal returns from sheep and deer, has seen Canterbury sheep, beef and deer farming adviser Wayne Allan hailed Sheep and Beef Consultant of the Year in the Farmax Consultant of the Year Awards in Hamilton recently.

He hopes his research will enable sheep and deer farmers to feed on the margins in the hope of making significant improvement to the profitability of existing enterprises, with less disruption to the overall farming system.

After working with Landcorp and MAF Technology, Wayne started his own consultancy business based in Canterbury in 2008, where he acts as an adviser to sheep, beef and deer farmers to improve their farm systems and create robust, profitable businesses.

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www.guardianonline.co.nz

41

erbury man takes out rural consultant award “Wayne’s contribution to agriculture, particularly deer, is impressive, with his clients having nothing but positive things to say about him.

“His project should prove to be interesting and very relevant to the sheep and deer industries,” said Farmax general manager Gavin McEwen.

This year marked the second Farmax Consultant of the Year Awards, which this year was held in conjunction with the New Zealand Institute of Primary Industries Management (NZIPIM) annual conference at the Hamilton Airport Hotel.

“The Farmax awards were developed to recognise the expertise and value agricultural consultants and rural professionals provide to the New Zealand pastoral farming industry, which often

goes unnoticed,” said Farmax general manager Gavin McEwen.

“Without the expertise of the consultants driving our New Zealand-developed software and interpreting the results, it is only software.

“That’s why working

“

In addition to the Sheep and Beef Consultant of the Year Award, Farmax also named soil nutritionist Hannah Best from Hawke’s Bay as Emerging Rural Professional of the Year and Wairarapa dairy farm consultant Chris Lewis as Dairy Consultant of the Year.

Wayne’s (Allan) contribution to agriculture, particularly deer, is impressive, with his clients having nothing but positive things to say – Gavin McEwen about him

alongside rural professionals is key to the success of our business and many other companies would say the same.

Farmax initiated these awards as a way to give consultants the kudos they deserve.”

Mr McEwen said the Farmax team were incredibly impressed with the quality and calibre of nominations put forward for this year’s awards and thanked those who took the time to nominate their consultants and

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colleagues. “The agricultural industry has really got behind the awards this year, and we are very excited to have had such a high calibre of sponsors supporting New Zealand consultants and rural professionals.”

Sponsored by DairyNZ, Beef + Lamb NZ, Ministry for Primary Industries, NZIPIM and NZX Agri, the awards were open to all agricultural consultants and a prize pool of $20,000 was up for grabs, including: ■ ■

A paid overseas study trip.

Professional development funds.

Paid hours off work to complete a project or initiative that will be of benefit to the pastoral farming industry.

A 12-month subscription to one of NZX Agri’s Farmgate products.

■

■

“We were also pleased to be able to introduce a new award to this year’s event, called the NZX Agri Farmer’s Choice Award,” Mr McEwen said.

“This award gives farmers an opportunity to nominate a consultant of high standing within the farming community who is deserving of recognition and acknowledgement.”

This year, the award went to consultant Rachel Joblin from Stantiall and Partners based in Feilding and Richard Greaves, a sheep and beef farmer from Hawkes Bay. They each received NZX Agri subscriptions and Farmax products and services.

For more information about the Farmax Consultant of the Year Awards, or Farmax software, visit www.farmax. co.nz

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Features

IDE

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AN

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UT

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Guardian ASHBURTON

Dairy Focus August 2013

• Mating

LIMITED QUANTITIES AVAILABLE FEEL GOOD ABOUT YOUR FERTILISER...

Phone Roger now: 03 429 1106 or 03 789 7043

The Wright stuff Page 2

Pages 2&3

• Pasture management • Business profile

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Farming

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Foreign asset sales: Are they wo With the pending election, the current sale of Lochinver Station before the OIO, and the wider debate around foreign investment in land assets (both rural and residential), the issue of direct foreign investment in land has jumped to the top of the queue of hot issues.

Much of the discussion has been emotive, and that is entirely legitimate, but it’s the economic debate that seems to have been lost.

We pose the question, “What is the economic return to NZ Inc. by allowing foreign direct investment in land?”

Many of the public offerings in the NZ market place that are targeting an investment in farming, offer returns of around 3-4 per cent cash return, and an 8-9 per cent capital return. Importantly, the capital return (if treated appropriately) is tax free. Given that much of the NZ Inc. Agribusiness value is tied up in the value of our rural land, it seems the first major test appears to fail.

Profits from a gain in the value of land are not taxed,

Crowe Horwath’s Hayden Dillon weighs up the issues and options of foreign assets sales, but in short, with profits from a gain in the value of land not being taxed, there is no return for NZ Inc, particularly if those funds are repatriated and not invested. (if managed appropriately) so there is no return for NZ Inc., particularly if those funds are repatriated and not invested into better (i.e. greater than 3-4 per cent) cash-returning assets.

Of course, there is the counter argument that if the capital is released and applied to a better returning asset, then there is some value.

Using the Lochinver Station example, it can be argued that NZ Inc. is releasing capital from one lower performing asset to invest in a higher performing asset, which has a better outcome for NZ Inc. But in the Crafar farms example, that capital simply repaid debt. What is done with the Lochinver purchase from an economic perspective in the future, will be the final determinant as to whether NZ Inc. benefits. As yet, we don’t have that information.

The Crafar example also showed another factor to consider when it comes to Foreign Investment. The offer was significantly larger than the next closest offer, which raises the question of how a foreign entity with no experience in NZ farming systems could justify a value well in excess of the largest and most experienced operators in NZ, relative to the cash returns from the asset. We actually don’t know the answer to that as we are not privy to the wider strategy being employed, but it needs clarity because it appears to be putting a value on land that is outside what can be economically justified. There are lots of other examples of this.

Our iconic high country stations are often sold for values well in excess of any production values. (Although

that’s not just to foreign investors). The economic value to NZ Inc. is once again negative, because the outcome will create greater barriers to entry for operators focused on productive returns, from which NZ Inc. benefits through increased exports and profitable taxable earnings.

But there is the alternative view that the land is being put into a higher value use.

Tourism in Otago is valued at 2.17B, so the creation of 53,000Ha of covenants on land covering Motatapu, Mount Soho, Glencoe and Coronet Peak stations, has to be seen as a big endorsement for foreign investment, as the land was placed into the covenants by the owners of Soho Property Limited and its overseas owner Robert “Mutt” Lange.

Underlying all of this of course is our free market. It

has served us well. No one should be told who they can and cannot sell their private assets to. We also need to acknowledge that we need foreign investment. NZ Inc. is relatively poor when it comes to the amount of capital we hold. As a country we do tend to hold the value of our Agribusiness Industry in the value of our land, but this has been a hard fought process.

Successive governments and economic polices have created an environment that makes us very attractive.

So NZ Inc. needs to ensure it gets a return for its investment, without interfering in the mechanism that has created it.

The economic debate needs to move toward what measures can be put in place to ensure NZ Inc. gets its share of its investment, while those in the market can still trade and make

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the best decisions for their businesses.

We think the answer starts by measuring the overall outcomes from recent OIO approved decisions, and whether they have achieved what was expected economically. Each OIO in itself is a detailed application, and the applicant has to achieve the agreed outcomes. But we think an overall review of OIO approvals and outcomes over the last few years would provide a more informed debate, on not only the benefits, but allow an informed debate on mechanisms and process that may need to be implemented to ensure that if there is any miss alignments, then NZ Inc. is still getting its return.

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